Canberra property industry caught in middle of residential meth lab clean-ups



Future tenants, landlords and property managers are becoming increasingly embroiled in Canberra’s ice scourge as a growing number of houses found to contain meth labs are decontaminated.

The Real Estate Institute of the ACT is urging landlords to follow correct procedures when securing tenants to minimise the chance of drug use in residential properties and the possible health hazards, crime and clean-ups costs associated with the problem.

Meanwhile, one of the clean-up businesses at the coalface is calling for the mandatory testing of houses with traces of the drug ice, or methamphetamine, to be written into lease agreements.

Institute director Craig Bright said the contamination of properties from the production of synthetic drugs such as ice was a growing problem faced by unwitting landlords, agents managing leases and future tenants.

Insurance problems could also arise if landlords and agents did not follow correct procedures when securing lease arrangements.

“It’s really a hazmat clean and that’s hideously expensive,” Br Bright said.

“Insurance should pay for [clean-ups], as long as correct procedures have been followed.

“[But] it’s not as simple as finding the drugs in a house and cleaning it up.”

Aside from health risks, the existence of meth labs could affect property values and future rental income and potentially endanger future residents. 

“Even if the property is reclaimed, does it mean people still come into the neighbourhood looking for drugs?” he asked. “People have to be very careful.”

Meth Lab Cleaners Australia managing director Josh Marsden said the decontamination of properties was “going to get worse over the next few years”.

“Real estate agents are stuck in the middle of it,” he said.

“I think liability is going to be a big problem, the duty of care not only to the tenant but also the staff member going in there.

“There are tenants I know in other states seeking compensation from agencies for putting people into a property without previous notification [of its history].”

Mr Marsden said some homeowners had not fully decontaminated properties once they realised the costs involved.

However, across Australia a growing number of prudent homebuyers and landlords are getting their homes drug-tested.

Mr Marsden would like to see the mandatory testing of properties before sale or lease introduced across Australia.

If tested regularly, properties could be cleaned before the situation worsened.

“We’re talking thousands of dollars compared with tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.

Next year Meth Lab Cleaners Australia is launching an series of online videos to educate homeowners and the property sector about the decontamination of houses, as well as recognising drug production, safety precautions, insurance issues and leasing a house after a clean up.

Mr Bright said most agencies had policies in place to ensure the safety of property managers who suspected illegal activity.

He said it was important staff acted quickly.

“There’s been various instances over the years when property managers have reported these types of activities to the police,” he said.

“There are tell-tale signs something is going on. It could be the result of an inspection or it could be a next-door neighbour reporting activity at the property.”